However—” he turned his stern gaze back to Richard “—you have absolutely no legal right to lock a minor child out of her primary residence or remove her belongings.

The minor returns to her room tonight, or I start making arrests for child endangerment.”

Patricia let out a ragged gasp. “This is cruel.”

I looked at the woman who had handed my sixteen-year-old a trash bag in the freezing rain. “No. This is documented.”

By 2:30 a.m., Grace was back in her room. I changed her sheets myself. She sat cross-legged on the rug, perfectly still, watching me tuck the corners in.

“I didn’t do anything wrong,” she whispered.